17 OCTOBER
In Music History
1964 Manfred Mann's version of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, hits #1 in America for the first of two weeks. The song was first recorded in 1963 by the female group The Exciters, who took it to #78.
1963 The Beatles record the first of their "Christmas Records," spoken word greetings sent out on vinyl to members of their fan club.
1960 The Drifters' "Save The Last Dance For Me" hits #1 in America for the first of three weeks. Doc Pomus wrote the lyric about his wedding day, when he watched his bride, the actress Willi Burke, dance with his brother.
1960 Dion & The Belmonts' breakup becomes official when it is reported in Billboard magazine. Lead singer Dion DiMucci claims the group's not bluesy enough; the band claims Dion just wants a taste of solo fame.
1958 Country singer Alan Jackson is born in Newnan, Georgia. He holds down blue-collar jobs while writing songs and playing in bands at night and on weekends. In 1989, he becomes the first country artist signed to Arista Records.
1957 The Elvis Presley film Jailhouse Rock premieres in Memphis, Tennessee.
1956 Mickey & Sylvia record "Love Is Strange," a song written by Bo Diddley. It comes back around in 1987 when it's used in the movie Dirty Dancing.
1954 Sun Records signs John R. Cash, recently discharged from the Air Force, to a record deal, where he joins Elvis Presley on the roster. Label boss Sam Phillips renames him Johnny Cash.
1949 Bill Hudson (the eldest of the three Hudson Brothers) is born in Portland, Oregon.
1947 Michael McKean, who portrays frontman David St. Hubbins in the fictional band Spinal Tap, is born in New York City. He's also known as wacky neighbor Lenny Kosnowski on Laverne & Shirley and brilliant but troubled lawyer Chuck McGill on Better Call Saul.
1946 The Doobie Brothers drummer Mike Hossack is born in Paterson, New Jersey.
1945 Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner marries her second husband, bandleader Artie Shaw.
1942 Gary Puckett (frontman for Union Gap) is born in Hibbing, Minnesota, but would be raised in Yakima, Washington (not far from the city Union Gap).
1941 Alan Howard (bassist/vocalist for The Tremeloes) is born in Dagenham, Essex, England.
1941 Soft rocker Jim Seals (of Seals & Crofts) is born in Sidney, Texas.
Street Survivors Released Three Days Before Skynyrd Plane Crash
1977Lynyrd Skynyrd release Street Survivors, the last album with frontman Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, as both are killed only three days later after the band's plane goes down en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Read more17 OCTOBER
Featured Events
2005 Fats Domino returns to his Ninth Ward home for the first time since Hurricane Katrina to find it utterly destroyed, with his piano and several of his gold records among the ruined items.
2002 The Ronettes lose their case against Phil Spector, claiming they are owed royalties for songs used in movies, TV shows and commercials.More
2000 At a charity auction organized by Mick Fleetwood in London, George Michael pays £1.5 million for the upright piano on which John Lennon wrote the 1971 hit "Imagine."
1998 "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies hits #1 in the US, where it stays for... one week.
1995 Rhino releases all 58 episodes of the The Monkees in a deluxe VHS box set. It's a big box: 21 tapes, making it the largest video release of all time.More
1989 Billy Joel releases the album Storm Front, with his enduring hit "We Didn't Start The Fire."More
1987 "You Win Again" by the Bee Gees hits #1 in the UK, making them the first group with UK chart-toppers in three different decades (the '60, '70s and '80s).
1972 Eminem is born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in St. Joseph, Missouri. He eventually settles in Warren, Michigan.More
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